Free Rise: Contemporary Romance (Creamy's Bakery Book 2) by Aspen Drake Page B

me.”
    “Great. See you at eleven?”
    “Eleven is perfect. See you then.”
    I hang up, a huge smile spread across my face at the thought of getting to see Beth today. Suddenly, I find myself whistling behind the counter as I clean up and sweep the floor.
    At exactly eleven, Beth pops her head through the front door.
    “Hey, you.” I grin broadly and wave her in.
    “Hi.” Her smile brightens the room and as I move closer to her, I realize how intoxicating her scent is.
    “You look beautiful.”
    “I’m a mess,” she says with a laugh. “I barely made it out of the house this morning without wearing a bowl of cereal.”
    “Crazy morning with the kids?”
    “Yes. I should feel bad for leaving Amy with them, but I don’t.” She shrugs.
    I can’t help but laugh as an image of Amy with a pregnant belly and two kids clinging to her with a look of fright as Beth left the house this morning. “Amy’s great with kids. She’ll be fine.”
    “She will be.” Beth nods and looks around the shop. “That’s probably why I don’t feel bad. She can use the practice of having two under her feet.”
    “This is true,” I say. “Shall we go?”
    “Yes. I’m starved. Where should we go?”
    “I know just the place.” I hold the door open as I wave Beth through. Then I look back at Becca. “I’ll be back. Want me to bring you anything?”
    “No, thank you. Have fun.”
    Beth and I step out into the warm morning air and head down to the gastro pub where Paul works. The restaurant is fairly empty when we walk in and take a seat at one of the booths in the front.
    Paul sees me and walks over to greet us. “Hey, Mason. Who’s the pretty girl?” Paul gives Beth a wink as he crouches down next to our table with a pad and pen in hand.
    “Hey, Paul. This is Beth,” I say, making introductions. “Beth, this is Paul. He’s Aaron’s…”
    “We’re dating,” Paul finishes for me with slight annoyance. “He’s not quite ready to call us boyfriends yet.”
    I give Paul a sympathetic smile. “He’ll come around. He’s had a rough time.”
    “I know and we’re good. Okay… Nice to meet you, Beth.”
    “Likewise,” she says.
    “What can I get you two?”
    We both place orders for lunch and Paul heads off to the kitchen to get them started by the chef.
    “I wanted to say thank you again for the other night,” Beth comments. “Isla hasn’t quit talking about the stuffed bear you helped her win.”
    “Isla’s a great girl. You should be proud. You’ve raised her well and she’s very polite.”
    “Despite your best efforts,” she retorts poignantly.
    “Hey, I’ve got to do what I can to get the kid to like me so her mom will.” I stare back at her with bit of mischief in my voice.
    Beth holds my gaze, her eyes drawing me in and pulling all of my attention to her. “I don’t think you have to worry about that.”
    “I don’t?”
    Beth’s hand moves across the table and covers mine. “No, you don’t.”
    I light up and turn my hand over so I can clasp hers in my palm. “That’s the best news I’ve heard all week.”
    “Is that so?” She raises an eyebrow.
    “Yep. It’s so.”
    “What if I told you that I convinced Amy to babysit Saturday afternoon and you get to take me out?”
    Thinking for a moment before responding, I bring her hand to my lips and kiss her knuckles. “Then I guess it’s my lucky week, because I’ve heard two pieces of good news.”
    We have a brief interlude when Paul brings our French dip hoagies and fresh drinks. We both start eating and carry on conversations about Isla and her obsession with a new cartoon. All the while, my stomach is in knots over my feelings for Beth. I’m not sure if she feels the same way, but the fact that she wants me to take her out again this weekend is very promising for a future we may have together.
    I don’t want to rush things, and I want to enjoy getting to know everything about her. Her quirks, her fears, her dreams. But I’m